NJ Education "Transformation" Report Creates Concern for Parents & Advocates
Submitted by Debra Jennings
on Sun, 09/23/2012 - 14:09
When a task force that includes no parents, no students and no advocates issues a report on education "transformation," parents and advocates express skepticism and concern. The Education Transformation Task Force was formed in 2011 by Governor Christie to: Review the education accountability systems and provide recommendations that would grant more autonomy to public schools and districts while maintaining, conduct a comprehensive review of all education-related statutes and regulations “to determine the extent to which they increase the quality of instruction for students, improve academic achievement of students, improve teaching effectiveness within schools or improve the safety and well being of students ... or are overly prescriptive.” The task force included no parents or advocates in its membership. A copy of the Task Force report can be found here. The report recommends 428 regulatory and 46 statutory changes to give teachers, principals and superintendents the autonomy they need to help all students learn and to create a culture that focuses on student outcomes rather than compliance with regulations. While some of these proposals may address outdated bureaucy, the Education Law Center notes, "The proposals, if adopted by Education Commissioner Chris Cerf, would drastically weaken State oversight and accountability for delivery of essential staff, programs and services in NJ schools, especially for at-risk students, students with disabilities and other vulnerable school children. Learn more

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NJ Education "Transformation" Report Creates Concern for Parents & Advocates
Submitted by Debra Jennings
on Sun, 09/23/2012 - 14:09
When a task force that includes no parents, no students and no advocates issues a report on education "transformation," parents and advocates express skepticism and concern. The Education Transformation Task Force was formed in 2011 by Governor Christie to: Review the education accountability systems and provide recommendations that would grant more autonomy to public schools and districts while maintaining, conduct a comprehensive review of all education-related statutes and regulations “to determine the extent to which they increase the quality of instruction for students, improve academic achievement of students, improve teaching effectiveness within schools or improve the safety and well being of students ... or are overly prescriptive.” The task force included no parents or advocates in its membership. A copy of the Task Force report can be found here. The report recommends 428 regulatory and 46 statutory changes to give teachers, principals and superintendents the autonomy they need to help all students learn and to create a culture that focuses on student outcomes rather than compliance with regulations. While some of these proposals may address outdated bureaucy, the Education Law Center notes, "The proposals, if adopted by Education Commissioner Chris Cerf, would drastically weaken State oversight and accountability for delivery of essential staff, programs and services in NJ schools, especially for at-risk students, students with disabilities and other vulnerable school children. Learn more